27-04-2025
Conference Player of the Year Joins Big 12 Contender
In a move that reshuffles Big 12 backcourts, Utah Valley's standout guard Dominick Nelson has opted to continue his college career at Iowa State for the 2025-26 season.
The 6-foot-5 junior wing, fresh off capturing Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors, will bring his scoring punch and experience to the Cyclones next season.
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In 2024-25, Nelson averaged a team-best 14.4 points along with 5.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 29.9 minutes per game, while shooting 43.6% from the field.
On Saturday, Sam Kayser of League Ready confirmed via X that Nelson committed to the Cyclones, providing an immediate boost to Iowa State's backcourt depth.
Iowa State is coming off a 25-10 that included a fifth-place finish in the Big 12 (13-7). The Cyclones reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament, losing to Ole Miss.
Nelson's journey began at Polk State College in Winter Haven, Florida, where he quickly ascended from promising freshman to one of the state's top junior-college talents.
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Over two seasons at Polk State, Nelson earned First Team All-Citrus Conference honors, nearly reached the 1,000-point mark and averaged 20.1 points per game during the 2023-24 season, the most for any player at Polk State in seven years.
Transferring to Utah Valley for the 2024-25 season, Nelson started all 34 games and guided the Wolverines to a commanding 15-1 conference mark.
Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger.© Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
Despite interest from several power-conference programs, Nelson's recent visit to Ames, Iowa, proved decisive.
Nelson arrives with one year of eligibility remaining and the potential to make an instant impact in the Big 12.
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With his scoring pedigree and proven track record, Nelson's unexpected transfer decision stands as one of the spring's most intriguing portal moves — and one that could reshape the Cyclones' 2025-26 outlook.
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger took over a two-win program in 2021 and has built it into a contender with four straight winning seasons. The Cyclones won the Big 12 Conference tournament title in 2024.
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